The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-12-25

All the marvels OF the system Of which this par
ticuler nebuls was, rs We have said. but an out
lier, gradually grow fainter to the Wow as once
more we sweep out into the emptiness OF space.
Our course now lies in such q direction that
1t Is certain we shall, II we keep on, pass be-
yond the regions into which the most power
full OF terrestrial telescopes have been able to
penetrate. out into the utterly unknown OK
panse of-what shall We call it2-that bounds
the visible universe. The stars and star clus-
tors, the nebul@ and all the celestial systems
within reach OF human eyesight, belong to one
grand cosmical system or universe. But there
eyesight ends; beyond only " darkness is visi-
ble." What is outside 2 Do other universes lie
beyondp II our comet continues In its
present course we are likely to solve those
questions. Already we have arrived at
the frontiers. Heretofore wherever We
have wandered the starry heavens have
been all about us. The stars and the nebul@
have seemed illlmitably distant; it has re-
CURED thousands and millions Of years for us
to pass from one to another, yet all tho time
we have been In the midst OF them. Now this
ia changed. We begin to perceive that we are
leaving them behind us and breasting our way
into a black sea OF nothingness which encom-
passes them. Now they are all on one side Of
us and becoming smaller and fainter. drawing
apparently closer together, as tho shipping In q
harbor contracts to the eyes that watch It from
a recedlng vessel. We recall with a shudder
Richter's Dream OF the Universe" and. like
him. we "tremble at tho thought Of the H.
Irritable dungeon Of pure. pure darkness
which hero begins to imprison the creation"
Columbus's sailors were frightened by the un-
known and mysterious ocean before thsm-a
mere Aim upon q speck Of rock. How insig-
nifcant their terror seems In comparison with
oursl In the face Of this intending outer dark
ness we look back longingly to the fading
galaxy behind us, now become only q CLEAN Of
trembling light. We cry out to return home
not to the earth. for that has probably persisted.
and 1t would seem . petty dwelling place for us
now. but to that starry universe in which we
were born. This outer expanse. this infinite
rayless gulf Of nothingness, overpowers US,
smothers US in its blackness; we gasp like
drowning men; thought itself is stiGed.
But there is hope. Surely the comet is turn
ing. Is not the distant CLEAN Of our lost flrma.
ment dimly visible again Yes, and 1t bright
ens-slowly with ~age-long steps. yet It docs
brighton. We are homeward oundl We shall
not be swallowed up In darkness. but shall see
stars and suns and smiling planets again.
And now, as we draw in closer to the shores
OF the universe, how glorious appears the shin
ing Of that great star whose attraction is evil
IDENTIFY the chief impulse Of our motion. which
has reached out a strong hand to us. as II 1t had
heard our despairlng cry and pitied US lost
onesl We recognize It; 1t is the glory Of tho
armament; 1t Is peerless Siriusl On We rush:
already the stars are about US once more. We
have passed tho sentinels; the frontiers en-
close US, the peopled universe enwraps us.
Faster we go, and the comet. awakening to
life. begins to trail behind the waxing splendors
Of its train.
The %throbbing energies Of mighty Sirius
thrill 1t with electric force. Never has it ap-
peared 30 splendid. We dart In among the
t%hronging planets Of this wondrous sun. and
feel the %stupendous power of its radiation as
we swing around it. But what means this ?
We are no longer travelling In a hyperbolic or
even a parabolic path. The comets track has
become an ellipsel 1t is a prisoner to Sirius,
around which 1t must henceforth revolve for
everl We are lost after 80 many escapesi But
no. not lost. Our little solar system enjoys no
longer the light Of its pigmy sun. and we who
have comprehended the glories of the universe.
would not wish to return to 1t. We are not
lost, but saved. for here We are back in the
universe that gave us birth. and our comet has
become a satellite Of its grandest sun.
Yet. never shall We forget how splendid q
home the little earth was In Christmas time.